Motorbike/scooter damage scam

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Across tourist areas — Patong, Koh Samui, Koh Phangan, Koh Tao, Pai, and Chiang Mai — small rental shops rent scooters for 200-300 THB/day and demand your passport as deposit. When you return the bike, they point to scratches, scuffs, or minor dents that were already there and demand 3,000-20,000 THB for 'repairs.' Without your passport, you cannot leave the country, giving them enormous leverage. Some shops photograph every minor mark but only show you the photos at return, not at pickup. Others make false claims about engine or mechanical damage. The repair costs quoted are wildly inflated compared to actual market rates.